15

Yeah I've heard from quite a few people about checking to see what flights are available with no specific destination in mind. I might try and include it in a second guide. It works well with last minute type deals too since they tend to be flights you don't plan.

16

Keep in mind that companies like Kayak, Skyscanner, et al do not necessarily have flights from all airlines covered. Many LCCs (Low Cost Carriers) will not pay commission and so are not listed on some of the sites. That means you have to check the LCCs separately on their own websites.

You also have to bear in mind that different airlines use different business models. For example, some offer some lower prices at a distant date to encourage some early bookings. Others reduce prices as the flight date nears (last minute) and others do both. So a price you get for any given airline today might go up or down tomorrow. The only way to know is to find out what model a given airline uses and plan accordingly.

For example, Air Transat (Canada - UK flights) offers discounts for booking early, then prices increase as the date nears and then they drop prices in the last 2-3 days before the actual flight date. Throughout the entire period they sometimes throw in some reduced prices and then remove them when they get a few bookings. So you look today for a flight a month from now and get a price of X but if you look tomorrow that price may be gone and a higher price quoted. Yet if you look again next week for a flight on that same date, there is an even lower offer and guess what, 2 days later it's gone again.

Basically, the bottom line message is that there is no one sure way to check for the cheapest flight. So my advice is similar to playing the stock market. Know what price range you expect and when you see a flight at that price book it. DO NOT try to chase the cheapest price as that will have you hanging on hoping for a lower price tomorrow and may end up with you having to pay a higher price. Look for a fair price that you are happy with and book. DO NOT go back tomorrow looking to see if there is a lower price after you have booked and making yourself unhappy if you find one.

17

As far as I am aware SkyScanner does not charge commission, it is a trend moving across most flight search sites since airlines are becoming less willing to part with their money. They don't sell you the flight they direct you to the people who sell you the flight. For the examples I have used SkyScanner found all airlines that service the route, that of course may not always be the case.

I am yet to actually find any last minute price drops, but I will continue researching it for a second set of tips. From what I've heard the last minute deals tend to be sporadic which fits badly with planning.

18

Have you checked out utiket.com? It searches for flights in Asia and includes the LCCs and will give you all the flights and airlines between the two sectors you are researching, with the latest prices. It is not a booking site but will link to the airline sites.

19

Bear in mind also, that the Skyscanner advertised fare(s), is very often 'Not' the final price.

20

Really? I tried dry runs on SkyScanner compared to the airlines own site and came up with the same price. I only did a few though so it might change from flight to flight.

21

Ah - if you take a budget airline fare (for example Wizzair), it might quote £25.
Then look at the card and booking fees (whatever they're all about) and it'll be over double.
Wizz do it, so do Skyscanner.

22

skyscanner doesnt advertise there fares. They are searching other websites and airlines and then just tell you the results.

23

skyscanner doesnt advertise there fares

How do you mean?

24

It isn't commission based. They search other websites for flight info, they don't buy tickets and sell them to you.

25

Skyscanner takes a commission when it refers searchers to book flights on a travel operators site.
Bit like a domestic fuel comparison site.
If you switch suppliers via their site, they make money. If you don't, then they don't make any money.

26

https://help.skyscanner.net/entries/21041622-do-you-charge-any-commission

When I looked at identical flights, GLA to Berlin was £101 on SkyScanner and £101 on British Airways.

27

Yes - yes, the same price - but Skyscanner charges a commission.
Not to the passenger though - to the airline. That's how it makes it's money.
Like I previously said - similar to domestic fuel comparison sites.
They charge the power company a fee - not the customer.

28

I dont beleive that is true

29

I stand corrected
"How does the site make money?

We have affiliate deals so that we take a commission when we refer searchers to book flights on a travel operators’ site. However, we show all the available fights we can, regardless of whether or not we have an affiliate deal with the operator."

I think thats why its still a great deal, even if they dont get commission they still list it, which is why they still show air asia etc. So you know you really are finding the best price rather than other operators that will only list things they can make money from.

Edited by: JimBurns

Edited by: JimBurns